The United Nations organisation was established in 1945 tasked with the principle purposes of maintaining international peace and security; developing friendly relations among nations; cooperating in solving international economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems and in promoting respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; and to operate as a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in attaining these ends.
Member states maintain permanent offices of representation, known as missions, to the UN in order to facilitate communication and activity with the organisation. The majority of these are based at the UN Headquarters in New York City, United States of America. A number of states also maintain permanent missions to the UN in Geneva, Switzerland.

A number of UN member states maintain permanent offices of representation, known as missions, at the UN Office at Geneva in Geneva, Switzerland.
The UN Office at Geneva is housed in the Palais des Nations, formerly the property of the League of Nations and handed over to the UN on the dissolution of the League in 1946. The office, established in 1966, functions as the largest duty station outside of the UN Headquarters in New York City.

Most member states of the United Nations maintain permanent offices of representation, known as missions, at the UN Headquarters in New York City, United States of America.
The UN Headquarters in New York City were constructed on Manhattan Island between 1949-1950 and stand on the banks of the city's East River. The 18 acre site, home to the tall Secretariat Building and the low-slung curved General Assembly edifice, is classed as international territory.